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Can fixtureRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Liquid Medicament Atomizer Or Sprayer, Pre-pressurized Container Holding MedicamentCan fixture description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070163576, Can fixture. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to a source fixture particularly, though not exclusively, for a source of a metered dose in a dispenser of aerosol or powder borne medicaments. [0002] Dispensers for inhalation of a metered dose of a medicament are widely used. In simple form, they comprise a body having a mouthpiece and an aerosol can. The can is connected to the body via its spout, which engages in a junction in the body leading to a nozzle opening towards the mouthpiece. Depression of the can towards the body dispenses the dose. [0003] In a breath actuated dispenser, such as described as the second embodiment in our International Application No. PCT/GB01/03313, dated 24 Jul. 2001, the can is fixed to the body and a slidable junction member receives the can spout. A cam mechanism displaces the junction member--and the spout--towards the can, dispensing the dose into the breath actuatable mechanism. In that application, we envisaged locating the can by detents engageable in a groove formed around the can, at which a can closure is crimped onto the can proper. However, we have noticed that appreciable differences can exist between the depressed position of the distal end of the spout and the groove portion at which the detents engage due to the build up of tolerances. The problem is exacerbated by the detents and the groove engaging at oblique surfaces, whereby radial tolerances can influence longitudinal position. The result is that the can is insufficiently accurately located longitudinally with respect to the body and the cam mechanism. [0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a more satisfactory fixture of the can to the body. [0005] According to the invention there is provided a dispenser for a gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance contained in a source thereof, the dispenser comprising: [0006] a substance source having: [0007] an external surface devoid of any feature intended for longitudinal location of the source and [0008] a spout displaceable inwards of the source to a dispense position for dispensing a substance dose from the source; [0009] a body having: [0010] a mouthpiece via which the substance dose can be inhaled and [0011] a socket sized for lateral location of the source via its external surface, but devoid of any body feature intended for longitudinal location thereof; [0012] a junction member for the spout, the junction member being arranged in the body to be slidable to a set position for displacing the spout to its dispense position; [0013] an action for slidably moving the junction member to the set position; and [0014] a unification of the source or a source locator to the body for locating the source longitudinally with the spout in its dispense position when the junction member is in its set position, the locator where provided extending from the body, outside the source and at least partially across the end of the source to provide a longitudinal location for the source, locating it when the movable junction member acts to depress the spout inwards of the source. [0015] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method in the production of a dispenser of the first aspect of the invention, the method consisting in the steps of: [0016] arranging the junction member in the body at its set; [0017] longitudinally assembling the source to the body, with the spout engaged with the junction member; [0018] temporarily holding the body and the source in a unification position with the spout in its dispense position and the junction member still in its set position; and [0019] unifying the body and the source together to fix them in their unified position. [0020] Normally the dispenser will include a breath actuation mechanism for releasing the junction member from its set position, whereby the dose is released to the patient and the spout returns from its dispense position to its normal position. With such a dispenser, the unification step can be followed by a simulated breath actuation. Alternatively, where the action for sliding the junction member to its set position may be adapted to actuate the mechanism in the absence of a simulated breath to return the spout and the junction member to their normal positions. [0021] The unification can be of adhesive between the source and the body, normally in the socket of the body. The body and/or the source or the locator can have a re-entrant feature and the body or the locator can have an aperture communicating with the re-entrant feature through which the adhesive was injected. The re-entrant feature can be an internal groove in the body or the locator for receiving the adhesive for a bond with the source or the body respectively. Alternatively or additionally, the re-entrant feature can be an external groove in the source at a crimp for retaining the spout and the source proper. The injected adhesive can be low temperature hot melt adhesive or fast setting two part adhesive. In either case, the adhesive will set on injection. [0022] Alternatively the unification can be a weld between the source and the body or between the source locator and the body, the welding being performed preferably by ultrasonics or by laser. [0023] A further alternative is a membrane such as a wrapping or a printed label around both the source and the body and unified to both. This alternative can be additional to the use of an adhesive or a weld. [0024] Whilst it is envisaged that the membrane may be of paper, it equally may be of plastics material. [0025] The membrane may be circumferentially continuous around the body as in a shrink wrapping, or it may discontinuous, as in a label wrapped largely around them. It is also conceivable that two or more separate membranes could be used, one to one side and the other to the other side. [0026] The membrane may have self-adhesive applied to it or adhesive may be applied directly to the source and the body. Indeed the membrane can be of material which is self-adhesive. [0027] Where the label is a continuous tube, it can be applied as a shrink wrapping. This is particularly advantageous where the body and the source are of different diameters. A shrink wrapping may grip the body and the source sufficiently tightly to unify them together without requiring adhesive. Alternatively, this may applied for instance as hot melt. The body and/or the source may be contoured to enhance the grip of the shrink wrapping on them. Such contouring may be used for adhesive labels. [0028] Again, it is envisaged that the membrane may be welded, as by ultra-sonic welding to either or both of the source and the body. Whilst the latter is currently of plastics material, the former is likely to be of plastics material in due course, facilitating welding. Ultrasonic welding is possible even where the source is of metal or indeed of glass provided they are coated with plastics material or indeed even if they are not, provided that the welding causes the melted body material to adhere to the source--when cooled again--sufficiently for no relative movement between them under normal use conditions. [0029] More specifically, the following weldings can be envisaged: [0030] i. Where the source is essentially of plastics material or at least has a plastics material portion, such as its main containing portion, engageable with the body, the two can be ultrasonically welded together. [0031] ii. Similarly, where the source has a glass container, typically with a valve connected to it by a crimped ferrule, and the glass is covered with a plastics material, either as a shrink wrapping or a spray coating or insert moulding or co-moulding, and the glass container fits closely within the body, the two can be ultrasonically welded together. [0032] iii. Again, where the source is metallic, either of plastics material coated metal or with sprayed on plastics material, the source can be welded to the body where the two engage with each other. This is possible either as regards a main container of the source or a crimped on ferrule. [0033] In accordance with particular feature of the invention, the source and the body are relatively located in the temporary holding step by: [0034] urging the source towards the junction member with a force sufficient to depress the spout towards the source proper and dispense a dose of the substance to the junction member. [0035] To help understanding of the invention, specific embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0036] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a dispenser of the invention, shown in a closed position; [0037] FIG. 2 is a similar ordinary side view; [0038] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of the dispenser during unification of its can to its body; [0039] FIG. 4 is a similar view partially in cross-section of a variant of the dispenser FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of another dispenser of the present invention, shown in a closed position; Continue reading about Can fixture... Full patent description for Can fixture Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Can fixture patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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